Game



J. P. COUGHLIN.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1920.

1,370,786, Patented Mar. 8,1921.

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$ 71: GHQ-cue attained to his score.

vention will be apparent during the course I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. COUGHLIN, 01'

HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

. GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed February 14, 1920. Serial No. 358,724.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. CoUoHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in games and toys and more particularly to a device especially adapted for use as a stlnirce of amusement for both young and 0 Generally speaking, a game constructed in accordance with this invention is provided with a runway having a plurality of movable figures arranged at one end and detachably held in a depressed position so that when engaged by the projectiles directed toward the same, the number applied to'the face of the fingers willbe elevated for registering the score attained at each turn or try. In playing a game constructed 'in'accordance with this invention, the object is to attain a predetermined score in competition with the other players of the game by directing a number of projectiles centrally along the runway in the direction of the figures for individually elevating the figures whereby the numbers upon the faces of the same will be exposed to view for allowing the player to apply the number just It might be added that in playing this game it'is necessary to exactly attain a predetermined score in order to win. Assum ng that a score of 500 completes the game, it will be seen that a player must attain exactly five additional points in case he already has'a score of 495 points. On the other hand if a player of the game registers fifteen points after having already attained a score of490 points, the fifteen points thus attained will'not be applied to his score, but it will be necessary for'him to continue playing in competition with the other players untilhe attains the necessary 500 points to win.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game of the class described which is neat in'appearance, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objectsand advantages of the in of the following description} w I In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a game constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same,

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on line l4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a runway having vertical sides 6 and 7 and an upstanding end 8 connected to the forward ends of the side walls 6 and 7 As particularly illustrated in Fig. 2, the runway is longitudinally inclined upwardly toward its forward end and is secured at its projectiles in passing along the runway from falling over the sides of the same. The rear end portions of the upstanding sides 6 and 7 are cut away, as indicated at 11, so as to provide what might be termed a starting point at the rear portion. of the runway.

With reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the forward portion of the runway is provided with a transversely extending slot 12 terminating short of the sides 6 and 7- and being of a width sufficient to permit of the vertical-movement of the figures designated A, B, C, and D upon being engaged by a projectile 13 in the form of a disk which may be directed along the run.-

way. The figures A, B, C and D have figures of various numerical values applied to their front sides or faces so that when any of the figures are elevated the number upon the face of the same may be readily viewed by the players of the game. Each figure maybe formed from a fiat strip of metal having-its major portion oval-shaped for providing aface upon which the numbers ,may be applied. A laterally projecting shoulder 15 is formed integral with the body portion of each figure and is adapted to be engaged by a transverse strip 16 secured to V the upper face of the runway and extending over a portion of the slot 12 so as to form a stop element for securing the figures in a downward position. The strip 16 is seated in a transverse groove or recess 17 1n the upper head of the runway so that the u per surface of the strip is flush with-the surface of the runway and therefore does not interfere with the free travel of the projectile 13. A head 19 is formed integral with each shoulder 15' and extends upwardly fromthe same, so that whenthe body of the disk is arranged beneath the runway the head will be in position to be engaged by the disk upon being directed along the runway. In other words, the head 19"0'f each figure is arranged slightly above the surface of the runway when the device isv set for: use so as to form a contact element for the projectile. An ear- 21 is formed on the upper side of each head and extends rearwardly from the same and functions as a manipulating loop. Each figure is yieldably supported by a flat leaf spring 23 having its forward portion 25 extended upwardly andsecured to. the figure "by rivets 26 or other suitable fastening devices. The rear end portions of the leaf springs 23 are anchored to the under side of the runway by such fastening devices. as rivets 28. Q

The end figure D has a greater numerical value than any of the other figures and is associated with a bell 30 which is sounded when the figure 'D is elevated. When the bell isrung, the player is entitled to an additional turn so that he will have a further opportunity'to increase his score. To form the striker for the bell 30, the forward portion of one of the leaf springs 23 is extended beyond' the figure 'D andiis arranged at a point spaced inwardly fromv its end in U- shaped formation, as indicated at 32, so as to form a spring. support for the striker 33. It will be noted that the striker 33'has one of its side edges presented tothe'bellby reason ofthe fact that the leaf spring is formed with a, half-twist 43.5 between one arm of the U-shaped member 32 and the striker. This results in the clear ringingof' the bell. The leaf spring supporting-the figure D is secured to thesaine by a V- r the figures.

shaped connecting strip 36 and fastening rivets 37 'In playing the game, each player is provided with preferably four disks 13 and hesuccessively directs. them, alongfthe runway into contact with. the heads 19 of.

7 When all of the figures have been released or elevated, the: same may befreturned. to' their original position; by a. lever 38gpivoted intermediate.itslends to: the. side wall 7 .6, as indicated at; .39, andhaving a flexible element 40 .operatively connected to its j eve ends i u t ted in ms 2 t flexible element 40, which may be a, cord or cable, is passed through an eyelet or loop 41 secured tothe rear wall 8 and is then connected to a U-shaped adjusting device 42 having parallel side arms 43 and a transverse connecting portion 44 adapted to en-' gage the upper sides of the leaf springs 23.

With particular reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that-a pair of bearings 45 carried by the under side of the runway receive a pair of spindles. 46 formed by bending the outer ends of the armsv 43 outwardly. When it is desired to lock all of the figures in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the outer end 7 of the lever ispushed forwardly for bringwith the transverse strip 16.

In playing the. game herein described, the disk 13 is positioned at the rear portion of the runway and is directed forwardly by a quick snappy movement of the second finger of the hand upon being released: by the thumb. I

In view of the foregoing description taken in connection with. the. accompanying drawings, it will be observed that a game constructed in accordance with: this invention will provide pleasant pastime and forma very interesting source of amusement;

It is to be understood thatthe form of the invention herewith shown and 'de scribedis to be taken asa preferred embodi ment of the same; and that such :minor changes inconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made aswill remain within 'the spirit of the invention; and the scope-of what is claimed. I 1 i 7 Having thus described'the invention, what is claimed as new is: l

1. A game including-an inclined runway having a transverse slot adjacent'its. forward end, a plurality of figures movable through said slot and having-heads arranged above the runway, springmeans'to. urge said figures upwardly, and means. to detachably lock the major portionsrof said' figuresbelow said irunway. r .1 2. IA game-of the-classjdescrihed including an inclined runway 'havingfa: transverse slot adjacent one end and terminating shortof the sides thereof,-a plurality of spaced vertically arranged figures-movable: through said slot .and having offset, rearwardlyextending shoulders, a retaining strip secured along oneedge portionofsaid slot and. adapted to be engaged by said shoulders whereby the figures are detachably. locked adownward position, and side walls secured to said'grunway and extending above the.. same;

3. A game including a runway havin a transverse slot adjacent one end thereo a plurality of vertically arranged spaced parallel figures movable through said slot and provided with rearwardly extending shoulders at their upper ends, a retaining strip overhanging a portion of said slot and adapted to be engaged by said rearwardly extending shoulders, said figures being provided with heads extending upwardly from said shoulders, and means to normally urge said figures upwardly and forwardly.

4. A game including an inclined runway having side and end walls provided adjacent one end with a transverse slot terminating short of said sides, a plurality of bodies movable through said transverse slot and having rearwardly extending shoulders at their upper ends, an elongated retaining member overhanging a portion of said slot and adapted to engage said shoulders for normally securing said bodies in a downward position, and a plurality of leaf springs having their forward end portions extending upwardly and secured to the lower portions of said bodies for urging the same upwardly andforwardly, said bodies being provided with heads formed integral with said shoulders.

5. A game including a runway having a transverse slot adjacent one end, a figure movable vertically through said slot and provided with a rearwardly extending shoulder, a retaining element overhanging said slot and adapted to be engaged by said shoulder, said body being provided with a head formed integral with said shoulder, a leaf spring secured at one end portion to the under side of the runway and having its other end portion arranged in U-shaped formation and provided with a gong, means connecting said leaf spring rearwardly of the U-shaped portion of the same to the lower portion of said figure, and a bell adapted to be engaged by said gong.

6. A game including a runway having a slot, a plurality of figures movable vertically through said slot and provided with shoulders, a transverse strip extending across the runway and partly overhanging said slot and adapted to be engaged by said shoulders, a plurality of leaf springs secured to the under side of said runway and to the lower end portions of said figures, a U-shaped adjusting device having a transversely extending connecting portion and arms provided with pivot elements, bearings carried by the under side of said runway and rotatably receiving the pivot elements of said arms, a lever carried by one side of said runway, and a flexible element connecting the lever to the connecting portion of said attaching device.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES P. COUGHLIN. [1 a] 

